Match box or safe



I (No Model.)

J. 0.;PIN0H. MATCH BOX 0R SAFE.

Patented July 21,1896.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES C. FINCH, OF OSWEGO, KANSAS.

MATCH BOX OR SAFE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 564,188, dated July 21, 1896.

Application filed October 2, 1895. Serial No. 564,388. (No model.) 7

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES C. FINCH, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of ()swego, in the county of Labette and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Match Boxes or Safes, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part thereof, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to match-safes; and

the object thereof is to provide an improved article of this class, which is simple in construction and operation, and which may be made either of metal or cardboard paper, or similar material, and which is provided with means for securing it to a wall or other support.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accompan ying drawings form a part, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved match-safe; Fig. 2, a similar view showing the inner sliding box which forms a part thereof partially withdrawn; Fig. 3, a similar view showing the method of attaching my improved match-safe to a support, and Figs. I and 5, similar views showing modified forms of construction.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, reference being made to Figs. 1 and 2, A represents a match box or casing which is oblong in form, rectangular in cross-section, and open at both ends, and B a sliding box located therein, similar in form and the top of which is open, these parts being of the usual form and such as are now in use.

In the practice of my invention I form in the upper side of the box or casing A two parallel slots a, which are preferably so arranged as to divide the top of the box longitudinally into three substantially equal parts, 0, D, and E, and in one end of the box B is a hole or opening 17, and in the end of the central strip D adjacent thereto is a corresponding hole or opening d, and each of these holes or openings is adapted to receive a tack F, as shown in Fig. 3.

In Fig. 3, G represents a plate, board, or

wall, or other support, to which it is desired to attach a match box or safe in a room. or compartment of a building, and when it is desired to so attach my improved match-safe the end of the box B,having the hole 19 therein, is broken loose at the sides and bent back and secured to the support by means of a tack, and the end of the central strip D of the box or case A, adjacent to the said end of the box B, is broken loose and bent down and secured to the support, as is also shown in said Fig. 3. IVhen thus attached, the front of the matchsafe will be provided with a vertical slot G, through which the matches will show, and by means of which one or more may be taken therefrom as desired, the top of the box or safe being always open.

The tacks F may be placed in the holes Z1 and cl at the time the box is made, or at any other time, and by the manufacturer of the case.

As thus constructed and arranged it will be also seen that by means of the slot G the number of matches in the box or safe may al ways be determined, and by means of said slot said matches may be easily removed, as will be readily understood.

In the construction shown in Fig. 4, I employ only a single box or casing A, and said box or casing is oblong in form and rectangular in cross-section, and is provided with a central vertical slot G, and the back thereof, projected at the top as shown at H, and has formed therein an opening h, as hereinbefore described and the construction shown in Fig. 5 is the same, with the exception that the box or casing is not so long and no hole or opening I) is provided.

In each form of construction the box or casing A is provided with a roughened or understood, to any desired extent, and in this form of construction I prefer to employ metal.

My invention is not limited to the exact form, construction, and arrangement of parts shown and described, and I therefore reserve IOO the right to make all such alterations therein and modifications thereof as fairly come within the scope of the invention.

Having fully described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A match box or safe, comprising a case which is oblong in form, rectangular in crosssection and open at both ends, a box which is similar in form adapted to slide therein, which is open at the top, and closed at both ends, said case being provided in its top with longitudinal parallel slots, by which said top is divided longitudinally into three substantially equal parts, one end of said slidingbox, being provided with a hole, and the central portion of the top adjacent to said end of the sliding box, being also provided with a hole, substantially as shown and described.

2. A match box or safe, comprising a case which is oblong in form rectangular in crosssection, and open at both ends, a box which is similar in form adapted to slide therein, which is open at the top, and closed at both ends, said case being provided in its top with longitudinal parallel slots, by which said top is divided longitudinally into three substantially equal parts, one end of said sliding box, being provided with a hole, and the central portion of the top adjacent to said end of the sliding box, being also provided with a hole, said end of the sliding box being adapted to be broken loose, at the sides and folded back and to be secured to a support by means of a tack or other device, and said central strip or casing, being adapted to be broken loose at the corresponding end and to be folded downward and secured to said support, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a match-safe, the combination with a case which is oblong in form, rectangular in cross-section, and open at both ends, of a box adapted to slide therein, which is similar in form, open at the top and closed at both ends, the top of said case being provided with two longitudinal slots by which it is divided into three portions, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in presence of the subscribing Witnesses, this 27th day of September, 1895.

JAMES C. FINCH. 

